The results of the forthcoming US Presidential election could have a major impact on employment-based immigration, especially for H-1B visas, according to ANI. The report mentioned that, if Donald Trump returns to power, his Administration may bring back its earlier strict policies, which could mean more scrutiny and higher denial rates for H-1B and L-1 visas. The H-1B and L-1 visas are types of US work visas for foreign professionals.
The H-1B visa is for skilled foreign workers in specialized fields, such as IT, engineering and finance. It allows companies in the US to hire international talent for jobs that require specific expertise. The L-1 visa is for employees of international companies who are being transferred to a US office.
The L-1A is for managers and executives, while the L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge. Both visas let foreign professionals live and work in the US for a specified period. In Trump’s first term, denial rates for H-1B visas increased from 4% to 17%, while, for L-1 visas, they went up from 12% to 28%.
This trend could come back, affecting IT companies that depend heavily on these visas to bring skilled workers to the US. The report noted that, in his first term, Trump issued an order called ‘Buy American and Hire American’, which put more restrictions on H-1B visas. Things have changed since then.
Many IT companies now rely much less on H-1B visas. Estimates show the number of employees needing these visas has dropped from 65% .